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Californian Conversations with Jon and Eric Baker

The Bakersfield Californian | Sunday, Feb 28 2010 09:35 PM

Last Updated Sunday, Feb 28 2010 09:35 PM

The Baker brothers have one fabulous job. Make that one sweet job.

Jon and Eric Baker are the managers of Lil B's Sweet Tooth, a new retail shop in The Marketplace carrying an impressive array of sugary goodies in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Their mother, Florence Crosby, is a Bakersfield native and owner of the business that's named after Jon's little daughters, the "Lil B's."

Jon, 32, and Eric, 29, lived the life of nomadic Navy kids before finding their way to Bakersfield. Now they're committed to making Lil B's the city's top destination for sweet treats.

Jon and Eric took turns answering our e-mail questions about the family business. Their responses are denoted throughout the interview.

Do you make any products yourselves?

Jon: We don't make anything at Lil B's for now. We're looking into a few tasty items that we may start making at the store. For now we offer delicious gourmet chocolates made by an award-winning chocolate company, Choclatique. Plus hundreds of sweet treats from Hershey, Nestle, Mars and many other great candy companies.

What are the top two or three items you sell?

Jon: That's a tough one. If we're talking gourmet chocolates, it's their Beverly Hills Cheesecake, the Creamy Brulee and their signature Chocolate Caramel in Dark Chocolate. If we're talking other candies, I'd have to say anything sour. From Sour Patch Kids to Pucker Powder. Kids can't get enough sour candy.

Do you have any sugarless treats for diabetics?

Jon: Of course. I myself am a diabetic. In picking candies for the store we knew we needed a good selection of sugar-free candies. We get a great response from customers when I show them just how much sugar-free candies we offer. We have sugar-free gourmet chocolates and truffles. We also have sugar-free Hershey products, sugar-free licorice and sugar-free Jelly Belly jelly beans and Gummi Bears.

What would you say to a pediatric dentist who blames businesses like yours for ruining kids' teeth?

Jon: "Sorry"? Kids -- be sure to brush your teeth after meals and before you go to bed.

How did Valentine's Day go?

Eric: The day before Valentine's we had the best day in our short history. We were super busy helping people with their last-minute gifts.

Jon: Being a new business, we weren't quite sure just how busy we would be. We did make sure we had plenty of the gourmet chocolate heart-shaped truffles on hand. In fact, we still do. Stop in and buy some at half off.

What do you think of your location in The Marketplace? How are you managing with all the teenagers there on weekends?

Jon: We are very happy with our location. The foot traffic is great. We love The Marketplace. It was the only place we wanted to put the store. We love how it's more than just a shopping center -- it's a popular place just to come and enjoy the weather and the community. My daughters love sitting out by the fountain -- so do a number of people in Bakersfield.

Eric: The teenagers can be a little rowdy but they are our customers. We make sure we are fully staffed every Friday and Saturday night to make sure every customer finds what they want and get in and out quickly.

What would you do if a busload of wild first-graders came into your store?

Eric: Run.

Jon: Ha ha, of course we'd greet them with a smile and maybe some jelly beans.

If you needed a theme song for your store, which of these would you pick, and why?

1. "Lollipop" by the Chordettes

2. "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies

3. "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond

4. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard

5. "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow

Jon: I think every song has been played in our store at some time or another. We have a Sirius Satellite Radio and depending on the crowd, we have it on '70s, '80s and '90s music. But if I'd have to choose, I'd say "Pour Some Sugar on Me." I'm a rock man.

Eric: Bow Wow Wow's "I Want Candy." It's catchy.

Jon: Yeah, it is. I think Eric caught me singing along with it last week.

What's your personal favorite sweet treat?

Jon: Another tough one. Sugar free. Choclatique's Espresso Dark Truffle. But my childhood candy that I made sure was in the store is Wonka's Bottle Caps. My sweet suggestion: Take a cola-flavored Bottle Cap and a cherry Bottle Cap and chew them together. Mmm, cherry cola.

Eric: M&M's. Plain, peanut or peanut butter -- I like them all.

How do you battle temptation to eat the treats all day long?

Jon: I battle and often lose. But I don't go crazy for chocolates. I often just pick one sweet treat to tide me over for the day.

Eric: I just try to keep myself busy so I don't think about all the candies.

What do you think of these alternative names for a sweet shop like yours?

1. Sugar High

2. The Cavity

3. Sticky Fingers

4. Forced Confection

Jon: Sugar High. It's short and sweet.

Eric: I like Sticky Fingers too, because that's what a good piece of candy leaves you with.

Here's an idea: Stay open during peak theater hours and undercut the nearby movie house's snack bar sales with cheaper prices. Maybe you could sell clever, ordinary-looking items to help customers smuggle in the goodies. Who wants to pay $7 for a Butterfinger when they can get it for less next door?

Jon: Not the first time I've heard that suggestion. Sure, concession prices can be seen as high, but they have to make money to survive. As for a sneaky sweet smuggler, we think it's best we stay away from that one.

Name three things that are always stocked in abundance at Lil B's:

Jon: M&M's, Jelly Belly, Crush Soda. We have a wall of M&M's offering 23 colors of plain M&M's. We also have a wall of Jelly Belly, with 24 varieties of jelly beans. And yes, we have sodas. We like to think of Lil B's Sweet Tooth as a modern-day candy store with an old-time feel. That's why we have both nostalgic candies and sodas. I love hearing "I haven't seen this in forever" or "I didn't think they made these any more."

What's the best piece of advice you ever got?

Jon: "Do what makes you happy." It's something my wife has told me and what led to me taking part in this candy shop venture. But Lil B's Sweet Tooth wouldn't be a reality if it were not for our mom, Florence Crosby. She had the idea and money to open the store. Eric and I just helped make it happen. Thanks, Mom.

Eric: Yes -- thanks, Mom.